MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY:
In a young growing country such as the Republic of south
Africa there is a growing need for higher productivity. The
gifted person does not always perform according to his
abilities, because he is not identified at an early age and
is therefore not completely understood. Previously, gifted
persons were only identified by their mental abilities,
whereas it is known that there are more factors involved,
such as personality, interests, study methods and attitudes.
etc. Psychological aspects that play an important role in
the better understanding of the gifted person are the
following :-
- academic performance,
- influence of the gifted person on the family,
- the influence of inheritance and environment on
giftedness,
- education of the gifted,
- sex differences with the gifted.
AIM OF THE RESEARCH:
The general aim of this study was to compare the gifted and
average groups of students according to their abilities,
scholastic achievement, interests, personalities and
study-orientation. This was done through the following
specific aims to determine if:-
i) the gifted and average groups (both sexes included)
differed in their profiles of the cognitive variables
(SAT and standard ten results).
ii) the mean profiles of the gifted and average groups
(both sexes included) comparing non-cognitive variables
(19FII, PHSF, SSHA), differed.
iii) the mean profiles of the gifted male and average male
groups comparing the cognitive variables differed.
iv) the mean profiles of the gifted male and average male
groups comparing the non-cognitive variables proved to
be significantly different.
v) the mean profiles of the gifted female and average
female groups comparing cognitive variables were
significantly different.
vi) the mean profiles of the gifted female and average
female groups comparing non-cognitive variables were
different.
The second aim of this study was to determine by t-tests
whether there is a statistically meaningful difference
between the different groups on the various fields or
components of the psychometric instruments.
METHOD OF INVESTIGATION:
In the first place, a study of the relevant literature was
undertaken, concerning the concepts of average, gifted,
interest, aptitude, personality and study methods and
attitudes.
The psychometric instruments used in this research are
discussed thoroughly according to their development,
contents, reliability and validity.
The sample used in this research consisted of one hundred
and forty average students (seventy male and seventy female)
and seventy gifted students (thirty five male and thirty
five female) which were selected after the 1984 mass testing
of first year students of the PU for CHE.
Statistical operations were done for these groups with the
aid of a computer. This work included the drawing-up of
mean profiles on each variable (cognitive and non-cognitive)
for each group (i.e. the gifted and average groups, the
gifted and average male groups; and the gifted and average
female groups) as well as the statistical comparison of
these profiles with each other. In the second place t-tests
were completed to detect differences between these groups on
different fields of interest, personality, abilities, etc.
CONCLUSIONS
With regard to the first aim of this study, the following
can be concluded:
i) The gifted and average groups' mean cognitive
profiles (both sexes included) were not parallel.
ii) The gifted and average groups' mean non-cognitive
profiles were not parallel.
iii) The gifted and average male groups' mean cognitive
profiles were not parallel.
iv) The gifted and average male groups' mean non-cognitive
profiles were parallel.
v) The gifted and average female groups' mean cognitive
profile were not parallel.
vi) The gifted and average female groups' mean non-cognitive
profile were not parallel.
With regard to the t-tests, the following can be concluded:-
The gifted group (both sexes included) showed statistically
better performance on the following fields or components
compared to the average group.
a) Subjects: Afrikaans (1st language), English (2nd
language), German higher grade, Latin higher grade,
Mathematics higher grade, Science higher grade, Biology
higher grade, History higher grade, Geography higher
grade & standard grade, Accountancy higher grade &
standard grade, Domestic Science higher grade and
standard grade, Wood & Metal work standard grade,
Technical Drawings higher grade and Typing standard
grade.
b) Interests (19FII):- Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Creative
Thought and Numerical.
c) Personality: (PHSF):- Desirability scale.
d) Study Methods and attitudes (SSHA)
- The average students (both sexes included) showed a
statistically higher performance on clerical interest
and sociability (Groups).
The gifted male group performed statistically better on the
following fields:-
a) Subjects:- Afrikaans (1st language), English (2nd
language), Latin higher grade, Mathematics higher
grade, Science higher & standard grade, Accountancy
higher grade, Technical Drawings higher grade and Wood &
Metal work standard grade.
b) Interests:- Creative thought.
c) Personality:- Desirability Scale.
- The average male students performed higher on the following:-
a) Interests:- Clerical
b) Personality:- Sociability (G)
The gifted female group showed the following statistically
higher performances:-
a) Subjects:- Afrikaans (1st language), English (2nd
language), German higher grade, Mathematics higher grade,
Science higher grade, History higher grade, Geography higher
grade. Accountancy higher and standard grade. Biology higher
grade, Domestic Science standard grade and Typing standard
grade.
b) Interests:- Fine arts, Creative Thought, Practical -
Male, and Numerical.
c) Personality:- None.
It was also found that the gifted group as a whole, as well
as the gifted female group, tend to be more actively
inclined towards interests.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The results of this study show that the gifted student does
differ in many ways from the average student. There is thus
a need for early identification of the gifted person so that
he could be understood and so that there could be catered
for this student at school level.
The following recommendations can be made in connection with
future research studies:-
a) More meaningful findings may be gathered on the
personality of the average student by including a second
personality questionnaire such as the Jung Personality
Questionnaire. The results of this questionnaire could
lead to better understanding of the PHSF results of this
study.
b) More instruments can be used to evaluate study
orientation, such as personal questionnaires and
interviews.
c) It is also recommended that the size of the groups be
increased in order to increase the reliability of such
findings. / Thesis (MA)--PU vir CHO, 1988
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/9592 |
| Date | January 1988 |
| Creators | De Vos, Catharina Elizabeth |
| Publisher | Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | other |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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